Do you have to buy a panettone at the supermarket but don’t know which one to choose? The latest test conducted by comes to your aid Altroconsumo on 12 classic panettone with raisins and candied fruit. As always, the consumer magazine tells us which are the best, also in terms of quality-price ratio.
Surprisingly, in this case we are not talking about the most expensive products or the most famous brands, but about commercial brand panettone sold for less than 7 euros.
The real battle of quality is played on raw materials. Italian legislation establishes that a panettone must contain at least 4% egg yolk, 16% butter and 20% fruit including raisins and candied fruit. However, the best products go far beyond these minimums.
The test shows that the most popular panettoni reach 11% yolk – almost three times the minimum required – giving the dough that intense yellow color and characteristic softness. Even the butter makes a difference: those who stop at the minimum threshold obtain a less rich and aromatic dessert.
The fruit deserves particular attention and it is not just the quantity that counts, but also the quality and the presence of candied citron, more valuable than orange. The best panettone have a perfect balance between raisins and candied fruit, without one prevailing over the other.
The blind tasting, conducted by over 160 consumers in the cities of Bolzano, Bologna and Matera, reserved an unexpected surprise. None of the 12 panettone tested won the “Consumer Choice” award, reserved for products that excel in taste. Everyone stopped at a passing rating, with 3 stars out of 5.
A result that suggests that, from an organoleptic point of view, there is still room for improvement. Consumers have shown themselves to be demanding, none of the panettone has disappointed, but not even really impressed.
On the food safety front, however, there is only good news. The analyzes verified the absence of artificial preservatives in all samples and excellent values in the peroxide tests, which measure the state of conservation of fats. The checks on mold and yeast also gave negative results everywhere, a sign of reliable production processes.
Only note: four products are slightly under the weight declared on the label, despite remaining within the tolerance margins established by law.
Let’s find out the ranking now.
The best panettone in the supermarket for Christmas 2025
In particular, two panettones from large-scale retail trade won the podium, demonstrating how it is possible to bring an excellent Christmas dessert to the table without spending a lot of money. These leavened products have been able to stand out not only for their low price, but also for their ingredients. In fact, they contain a high percentage of egg yolk (up to 11%), a generous quantity of butter above the legal minimum, a good balance between raisins and candied fruit and an excellent quality-price ratio.
A result that dispels the myth according to which only panettone from the big names can guarantee good quality. The truth is that today large-scale retail trade has made many steps forward in the selection of raw materials and production processes.
Here is the complete ranking:
!function(e,n,i,s){var d=”InfogramEmbeds”;var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)(0);if(window(d)&&window(d).initialized)window(d).process&&window(d).process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,”script”,”infogram-async”,”https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js”);
How to recognize a quality panettone
Some visual details can help you recognize a better quality panettone. The dome must be high and proportionate, without excessively overflowing the baking cup. The crust should look even and golden, never burnt. Then there is the characteristic cross-shaped scarp which is not only decorative but allows the dough to develop correctly during cooking.
Inside, look for a deep yellow paste – a sign of abundant yolk – with large, irregular cavities. If the structure is too dense and homogeneous, it looks more like a pandoro. Fruit and candied fruit must be visibly abundant and well distributed, with the presence of cedar.
Finally, rely on your sense of smell. The aroma must be reminiscent of that typical of natural leavening, without overly acidic or bitter scents which could indicate excessive cooking or poor quality ingredients.
The test methodology
To draw up this ranking, Altroconsumo involved over a thousand members of its Qualify community, who indicated the most purchased and favorite brands. The 12 panettone selected were purchased in normal stores and subjected to in-depth laboratory analysis.
The checks concerned compliance with legal requirements for key ingredients such as egg yolk, butter and fruit, the absence of preservatives, the quality of preservation through the analysis of peroxides, any presence of mold and yeast, and the correspondence between declared and actual weight. At the same time, the blind tasting in the three cities made it possible to collect consumers’ direct opinion on the actual taste of the products.
